The old CN station in Shellbrook has been standing for over 100 years. (Submitted photo/Crystal Tremain)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community landmarks

End of the line may be approaching for historic Shellbrook CN Station

Apr 13, 2020 | 12:00 PM

A historic building in Shellbrook, which also houses the town’s only museum, may be facing demolition.

Town council has informed residents they plan to discuss a bylaw, which would repeal the Municipal Heritage property designation of the CN Railway Station. The eventual plans include tearing it down completely. Mayor George Tomporowski explained the amount of money needed to refurbish the building was just no longer feasible for the community.

“We’re probably looking at something in the order of half a million dollars to re-purpose it and make it so it’s accessible to the public,” he said. “Thats a lot of money for a community our size when we have a lot more pressing needs like expansions to our water plant and roads to fix.”

Town Council’s next scheduled meeting is on May 19. Any person who objects to the possible demolition, can submit a written letter to council, stating the reasons why. It must be submitted no less than three days prior to the meeting date.

“We certainly want to retain things that are significant to the community and at some point down the road we may find another place to display some of that stuff,” Tomporowski said.

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He acknowledged there are some community members opposed to the demolition plans, but explained there has been very little traffic in the building for the past three years.

Construction of the building was completed in Dec. 1909 and is one of the town’s earliest buildings. Construction was commenced in the same year that Shellbrook’s townsite was established by the Canadian Northern Railway and reflects this milestone.

In 1988, the property was designated a Municipal Heritage Property and a group of dedicated volunteers have been helping to keep it running.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell